Discussed the Role of AI Agents in Customs at UN ESCAP Webinar

It was a great pleasure to participate as a panelist in the recent global webinar on AI Agents and Bots in Cross-Border Trade, jointly organized by the United Nations ESCAP, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the World Customs Organization (WCO). The session brought together 264 participants from 71 countries, including representatives from Customs administrations, international organizations, academia, and the private sector. The discussions focused on the potential of artificial intelligence agents and bots to streamline and improve the efficiency of cross-border trade processes.

During my presentation, I shared practical use cases demonstrating how AI agents can support various aspects of Customs operations, particularly in the areas of risk management, classifcation, and invoice validation. I also presented findings from my recent research on using AI to identify and expedite environmental goods at Customs, a growing area of importance in the context of green trade facilitation and sustainability.

The event offered a valuable platform to learn from other pioneering initiatives. The WCO provided insightful updates on the global adoption of AI in Customs, highlighting both challenges and successful applications. The session also featured a compelling presentation from Germany Customs, showcasing their implementation of AI-powered chatbot and voice assistance.

Another highlight was the introduction of ESCAP’s TINA Platform, an AI-driven trade intelligence solution designed to negotiation of trade agreements by providing insights into current tariffs, non-tariff measures (NTMs), agreements and bilateral trade flows. The private sector also made important contributions, with innovative demonstrations from Complidata and Cuber AI Technologies, emphasizing how scalable AI technologies are being integrated into real-world Customs and trade solutions.

Evet details: https://www.unescap.org/events/2025/webinar-ai-agents-and-bots-facilitating-paperless-trade-transactions

This event was a clear testament to the growing momentum behind AI-powered transformation in trade facilitation. I look forward to continued collaboration and knowledge sharing.